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ACLU of Hawai‘i and ACLU of Hawai‘i Foundation

American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai‘i and the ACLU of Hawai‘i Foundation: What is the Difference?

The ACLU of Hawai‘i comprises two separate corporate entities, the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii and the ACLU of Hawai‘i Foundation. Although both the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai‘i and the ACLU of Hawai‘i Foundation are part of the same overall organization, it is necessary that the ACLU of Hawai‘i have two separate organizations in order for the ACLU of Hawai‘i to do a broad range of work in protecting civil liberties. This Web site collectively refers to the two organizations under the name “ACLU of Hawai‘i.”

Although there is some overlap in the work done by each organization, certain activities the ACLU of Hawai‘i does to protect civil liberties must be done by one organization and not the other. This is primarily in the area of lobbying. The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai‘i engages in legislative lobbying. As an organization that is eligible to receive contributions that are tax-deductible by the contributor, federal law limits the extent to which the ACLU of Hawai‘i Foundation may engage in lobbying activities. Therefore, most of the lobbying activity done by the ACLU of Hawai‘i and discussed in this Web site is done by the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai‘i. By contrast, most of the ACLU’s litigation and communication efforts described in this Web site are done by the ACLU of Hawai‘i Foundation.

You may make a contribution either to the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai‘i, the ACLU of Hawai‘i Foundation or both. A contribution to either organization will be used to support, promote and defend civil liberties. However, each organization will only use the funds contributed directly to it to carry out the specific activities it conducts as part of the overall ACLU of Hawai‘i mission. A donor may make a tax-deductible gift only to the ACLU of Hawai‘i Foundation. A donor who chooses to “Join” and become a card-carrying member of the ACLU of Hawai‘i is making a contribution to the American Civil Liberties Union. Membership dues and other gifts to the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai‘i are not tax deductible.